Brooch or the like



Jan. 17, 1939. w. HUPPERT BROOCH OR THE LIKE Filed June 9, 1937 m n T N E V m ,M ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 17, 1939 unites STATES BROOCH OR THE LIKE William Hup-pert, New York, N. Y., assignor to Goodman & Sons, Inc., Jersey City, N. J., a cerporation of New Jersey Application June 9, wetsuits No. 147,171

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a brooch or the like of the type comprising a pair of detachable clasp or clip members that may be separately used when desired.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a brooch of this type wherein the two clasp members may be easily and quickly connected or disconnected, and, when connected, are firmly and positively held in their assembled positions.

A further object is to provide a brooch and clasp assembly wherein the parts may be assembled or disassembled with a minimum of movement and effort.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of a brooch embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a section thereof taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4- is a section on the line Q- l of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the connecting bar;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 of a modified form of connecting device;

Fig, '7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed view of one end of the structure as in use with the connecting bar of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another modification of the connecting bar.

In proceeding with the present invention, a pair of clasp members lfi l0 are employed. The

two clasps are preferably alike in construction and design, and they may have their faces ornamented or decorated in any desired manner. The clasps are adapted to be detachably mounted on a connecting bar ll, hereinafter more fully described, to form a brooch and clasp assemblage.

Each clasp l6 comprises a face plate l2 and a back plate or jaw it. The back plate l3 has a central opening i l, and an upturned flange [5 at its inner end. The flange l5 has laterally extending pivots l6 that pass freely through perforations in the ears H to pivotally connect the back plate l3 to the face plate l2. The ears I! are fixed to the inner end of the face plate [2. A bowed leaf spring l8 extends between the ears and bears against the upper edge of the flange 15, as shown in Fig. 3, when the back plate is closed. The spring acts to hold the back plate in its closed position, and to assist in swinging it into open position. The back plate l3 has a prong l!) adjacent its front end,

and a pair of opposed prongs 20, one at each side of the central opening IA.

The connecting bar H in the form shown in Fig. 5 comprises a fiat strip 25 having forwardly offset ends 22 and a rearwardly offset, U-shaped, central-portion 23. The walls 2 5 of the central portion having inwardly extending'lugs 25 struck therefrom. A pin 26 is mounted on the front face of the connecting bar for securing the brooch to a garment or the like. The pin is pivoted at one end in a joint 2'! and its other end is received in a catch 28.

In mounting each clasp on the connecting bar, the back plate l3 of the clasp is opened and the bar is inserted in the central opening M ofsaid plate to'an extent of aboutone-half the length of the bar whereupon the back plate is snapped down to its closed position, In this position the portion 29 of the back plate is engaged or hooked between the lug 25 and the opposed face of the overlying bar portion 23, as seen in Fig. 2, while the end portion 22 of the bar bears against the inner surface of the face plate l2 and underlies the back plate l3. These engagements of the parts hold the clasp, in its closed position, tightly on the bar against accidental separation.

On referring now to Fig. 4, it will be seen that in the closed position 'of the back plate l3, the prong 19 engages through an aperture 30 in the bar ll, while the prongs 29 engage the opposite sides of the bar, so as to prevent longitudinal and lateral movement of the clasp with respect to the bar.

Each of the two clasps is separately but similarly mounted on the bar. When both clasps are mounted, their inner ends abut against each other so that the face plates of the two clasps combined give the appearance of a single ornament. On referring to Figure 1, it will be seen that the pin 26 extends in line with the longitudinal axis of the assembly and thus provides a balanced structure. To detach the clasps, it is merely necessary to raise the back plates [3 to their open positions and to slide or move the clasps outwardly off the bar. When detached, the clasps may be separately used in the manner of the ordinary ornamental clasps or clips.

In Figs. 6 and 7 a modified form of the invention is presented wherein it will be noted that the connecting bar H is generally similar to that shown in Fig. 5 with the exception that it has oppositely disposed ears 3|, each having a perforation 32 for the reception of the prongs 20. In this form, the connecting bar is slightly wider at the ears l9 than the width of the censequently, in assembling the parts, the bar is inserted edgewise through the opening and is then turned to normal position before the back plate is closed down.

A further modification of the connecting bar is illustrated in Fig. 8. In this instance, the bar I l is arched slightly in the direction of its length and is provided with pairs of oppositely disposed and spaced hooks 33. The space, measured perpendicularly to the plane of the bar, between each stantially to the thickness of the portion 29 of the back plate of the clasp, so that, when the parts are assembled in the manner indicated in Fig. 2, the engagement of the hooks over the back plate will hold the clasps in proper position on the bar. In' this-instance the prongs IQ of the clasps engage in the apertures 34 in the bar while the prong pairs 26 engage over the side edges of the bar. The manner of attaching the clasps to or of detaching them from this bar is substantially the same as that previously described. in connection with the bar shown in Fig.

5, except that in this case the portions 29 of the back plates are engaged in the hooks 33 instead of being engaged by the lugs 25.

It is to be noted that the connecting bar should be of the proper size and proportion to accommodate the particular clasps with which it is to be assembled. Various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts herein described may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

What I claim is: i

1. In an article of the character described, a

face plate, a back plate pivotally secured'adjacent' one end to the face plate, said back plate having a central opening, a spring for holding the back plate in closed position, and a bar having a portion overlying the back plate adjacent its pivotal connection and having a portion inserted through the opening and underlying the opposite end of said plate. V V

2". In an article of the character. described, a face plate, a back plate pivotally secured adjacent one end to the face plate, said back plate having a central opening and an angular flange portion, a leaf spring bearing on the flange to hold the back plate in closed position, and a bar having a portion overlying the back plate adjacent its pivotal connection and having a portion inserted through the opening and underportion overlying the back plate adjacent its 7 2,144,375. .tral opening M of the back plate 13 and, conpivotal connection and having a portion inserted through the opening and underlying the opposite end of said plate, and an opening in the bar for reception of the prong.

4. In an article of the character described, a face plate, a back plate pivotally secured adjacent one end to the face plate, said back plate having a central opening, a spring holding the back plate in closed position, prongs at opposite sides of the central opening of the back plate, a bar 7 having a portion overlying the back plate adjachook 33 and the adjacent edge is equal subent its pivotal connection and having a portion inserted through the opening and underlying the opposite end of said plate, the prongs of the back plate, in the closed position of said. plate, beingengaged over the side edges of the bar.

5. In an article of the character described, a

pair of clasps abutting each other at their rear plates'and end portions that are inserted through and that underlie the the bar, and another prong on each back plate that engages in anopening adjacent the ends of the bar. e

'7. A clip'brooch comprising'a support member, means to secure the same to a garment, a clip having an ornament and a back jaw hinged thereto, said back jaw having an opening through which the support member may be passed to extend along the jaw and be held between the back jaw and the ornament.

8. A clip brooch comprising a support member, means to secure the same to a garment, a pair of clips each having an ornament and a back jaw hinged thereto, said'back'jaws having openings through which the support member may be passed to be held between the back jaws and the ornaments, prongs onthe back jaws to engage the edges of the support and locate the back jaw on'the support.

9. A'clip brooch comprising a support member having offset portions, a clip having an ornament and a back jaw hinged thereto, said back jaw having an opening through which the support member may be passed toposition the offset portion through theopening with the portion threaded through the opening to be held between the back jaw and the ornament, said offset serving as a cam to move the ornaments with reference to said support as the back jaw is swung about its own pivot and the offset as a pivot. WILLIAM I-IUPPERT. 

